Shakespeare's works banned in Florida schools for being 'sexualised'; teachers say 'the world is laughing at us'
The Hillsborough County, Florida, school board announced on August 8, 2023, that it will ban students from reading William Shakespeare's plays, including 'Romeo and Juliet,' 'Hamlet,' and 'Macbeth,' in their entirety, citing their sexual content and violation of state educational standards. Going forward, Hillsborough County will require students to use censored Shakespeare plays as educational materials, and violating the ban could result in complaints from parents and disciplinary action from the school.
Hillsborough schools cut back on Shakespeare, citing new Florida rules
'Romeo and Juliet' banned from Hillsborough, Florida schools
https://nypost.com/2023/08/09/romeo-and-juliet-banned-from-hillsborough-florida-schools/
The new restrictions follow a revised teaching guide that banned teachers from reading Shakespeare's works in full to their students, including some that contain explicit content.
'This was done with the law in mind,' school district spokeswoman Tanya Alja said of the change in educational guidelines, explaining that it was in keeping with state law.
The state law Alja is referring to is theFlorida Parental Rights in Education Act, which was enacted in 2022 with the support and signature of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.
This law, also known as the 'Don't Say Gay' law due to the debate over the nature of LGBT education, essentially bans the teaching or discussion of sexual content in Florida unless it is related to certain standards, such as health classes.
Florida Governor Signs 'Don't Say Gay' Law, Banning LGBT Education for Elementary School Children - GIGAZINE
The school district said Shakespeare's works have not been banned entirely, and that if children want to read the plays in their entirety, they can obtain copies of the books and scripts, possibly with the help of their parents.
Previously, English classes in schools across the region required students to read two full novels or plays each fall and spring. However, the new state proficiency test, known as 'Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking,' will include excerpts from five to seven books, including one novel and one play.
The new policy has not been well-received by educators. Joseph Kuhl, a reading teacher at Gaither High School in the Northdale section of Hillsborough County, told local news media, 'There's definitely some vulgarity in Shakespeare's plays, because that's what sold tickets in his day.'
'I think the majority of the American public, and indeed the world, is laughing at us. It's just ridiculous to take away the whole of Shakespeare from children because the Romeo and Juliet relationship is somehow exploitative,' Kuhl said, questioning the excessive restrictions.
School Board Member Jessica Vaughn also revealed that she was unaware of the decision, saying, 'There are many decisions being made at the district level in Hillsborough County that I am not made aware of until shortly before or after the information is released to the public. Many of these decisions are causing great anxiety and concern for our community, families and staff.'
Vaughn then argued that the problem was the tyranny of the state Department of Education and the Legislature, saying, 'I am deeply disappointed that the Department of Education, appointed by legislators and the Governor, is aggressively enacting education laws and regulations that do not reflect 'parental rights,' without thoughtful feedback from the community, and without sufficient guidance on how to implement them. These rules and laws have no positive impact on student achievement, receive little feedback from teachers, and provide little clarity on the penalties associated with these new laws and regulations.'
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